First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko reflects on her new role

by Marta Kolomayets

KYIV - Kateryna Yushchenko is enjoying her new role as the first lady of Ukraine, calling it the most wonderful job in the world. Born in Chicago on September 1, 1961, the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants from the Kyiv region and the Donbas, Katya Chumachenko was a typical first generation diaspora teenager, involved in the Ukrainian American community, committed to human rights issues, often correcting the inaccuracies about Ukraine among her classmates and teachers, pointing out that Ukraine is not Russia.

She worked her way through top U.S. universities, Georgetown and the University of Chicago, where she earned an M.B.A., and spent a summer at the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute in 1985. In Washington, she worked as the director of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America bureau, followed by a brief internship at the Customs Service and then politically appointed positions at the State Department's Bureau for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, the White House Office of Public Liaison, the Treasury Department Office of Policy Management and the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.

She visited the Ukrainian SSR in the 1970s and returned to an independent Ukraine in 1991 as a founder and representative of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation. In 1993 she became the resident advisor for the USAID-financed Bank Training Program managed by KPMG Barents Group and worked as the country manager for the company until 2000.

She married Viktor Yushchenko in 1998 and together they have two daughters Sophia, 6, and Chrystyna, 4, and a baby son, Taras, who turned 1 on March 24. She is also stepmother to Vitalina and Andriy, the president's adult children from his first marriage.

On January 23, Mrs. Yushchenko became the first lady of this country of 48 million as her husband was inaugurated the third president of independent Ukraine, after the tumultuous events of the Orange Revolution that brought down the corrupt, totalitarian regime of Leonid Kuchma.

She has now been called Ukraine's bridge to the West, blending the best of two worlds: the democratic principles of the America she grew up in and the ancient traditions and culture of one of the oldest European nations.

Sitting in her new office on the Podil, in the same space that just months ago served as her husband's campaign headquarters, Mrs. Yushchenko thrives on the positive energy of the room, but is busy making plans to remodel it to reflect her own style. She has already filled the room with pictures of her family and mementoes from the Orange Revolution. Elegant and eloquent, Mrs. Yushchenko, dressed in a classic grey tweed suit by Ukrainian designer Lilia Pustovit adorned by a reproduction brooch in a Scythian design, paused from her busy schedule to speak to The Ukrainian Weekly, reflecting on her life, her new role and her hopes for Ukraine's future.

Balancing the role of a mother, wife, first lady, diplomat, career woman, foundation president, hostess and representative of Europe's newest democracy, she prepared for a week of events that included her son's first birthday. Other items on the agenda were the visit of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and his wife with a myriad social, cultural and humanitarian events, a series of meetings with her foundation, Ukraina 3000, and preparations for her upcoming return to the United States - now as a citizen of Ukraine. She will be accompanying President Yushchenko on his first official visit to the White House.

Mrs. Yushchenko, who was interviewed in mid-March, spoke candidly about her feelings and concerns. (Editor's note: The transcript that follows was given to Mrs. Yushchenko last week for her review prior to publication.)

Q: What molded you?; why such a strong commitment to Ukraine?

A: There are several factors that made me so strongly committed to Ukraine. The first was my family. As with many diaspora Ukrainians, our conversations around the dinner table almost always revolved around my father talking about the Famine, the Stalin years and the war. Discussions about Ukraine were omnipresent in our family - both the wonderful and the tragic aspects of our history. And there always seemed to be Ukrainian music in our home, sentimental, nostalgic.

A second factor was my first two trips to Ukraine: in 1975 with my mother and in 1979 alone. These two months really changed my life. My first trip here made me want to live in Ukraine, it made me want to return someday, whether as a diplomat or banker. At that time, it became an overriding desire in my life to come back; I was 13 and had a slightly romanticized version of Ukraine. I met with family in both Kyiv and the Donbas, and I was touched by the folk songs my family sang, the green parks, the evening walks in a city that seemed so safe and crime-free. Yet, I also knew that I was followed everywhere I went; my mother and I were brutally searched at Boryspil (to this day, whenever we go through the VIP gates, I remember that terrible experience in 1975), there were red banners hanging in the streets. It was a strange juxtaposition between good and evil - something out of a spy novel.

The third event that made a major difference for me was a speech by Gen. Petro Grigorenko (dissident and founder of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group) on Daley Plaza in Chicago in 1979. I remember that he said: "I believe that I will still see an independent Ukraine in my lifetime." I saw so many people, young and old, with tears in their eyes. And, I realized that if he, in his elderly years, truly believes that, then it must be possible.

As a young adult, I kept making choices in my life that brought me back to Ukraine. I believe that God leads you down a certain path. Whenever I had a choice, for some reason the best decision always seemed to involve Ukraine.

Q: Did your faith in God help you get through the difficult times of the Orange Revolution?

A: Without a doubt, it was our belief in God that got us through the last few months. The whole experience was strange; often I wondered if I was in a dream and would awake to see that none of this had really happened - the moving announcement speech on Spivoche Pole, the campaign stops that were attended by thousands of Ukrainians with hope in their eyes, the poisoning and threats and other dangerous incidents, the hospitalization and return to Ukraine, the vote fraud and cruelty in the media, the uprising and the unbelievably courageous and positive behavior of the Ukrainian people. There were extremes of emotions - from exhilaration to anger, from joy to fear.

Through it all, Viktor and I never really questioned why we were there. It was clear; there was a reason for it all. We never talked about it. We both knew that God had put us and many other people here at this particular time, in this particular place. This was a very pivotal time in Ukrainian history and we were all meant to play our little part.

I have to admit that I often had doubts and fears. On November 21, the night of the second election, I asked Viktor: "What happens now?" He answered: "It is now all in the hands of the people." I asked him: "Do you think they are ready?" He assured me: "They have had enough. Of course they are." He was very confident; he never had any doubts.

There were a few evenings when I thought I should return to our home and pack food and clothes - not to leave the country - but in case we were arrested. There were a number of threats to kidnap or kill me or the children - not to speak of threats to Viktor's life. All our family - children, grandchildren lived in another family's home for more than four months; we had security that would double-up when they feared an armed attack. While I thought I might have to send the children to close friends, there was never a time when I thought I should leave the country. I could never do that to Viktor. It was history in the making. It was just too important. I had to be here.

Q: How did the children respond to all of this?

A: The children were Viktor's biggest support system. All of the family was together during the Revolution. I remember that he came home after a particularly difficult day and the three little ones were marching around the house, chanting: "Together we are many and we shall overcome" (Razom nas bahato i nas ne podolaty). That, of course, had to bring a smile to his face.

What made me happy was the fact that I realized that these children, like children throughout Ukraine, would never be overcome, and no matter what else happened, no one on the maidan (square) would ever be a slave to a regime again. These young people would be different.

That we were on the maidan every day was very important to me; we walked around and talked to the people. It gave me a lot of strength and positive energy to be among people from all corners of Ukraine. I wanted them to know that we were with them and that we were all in this together. There was such an amazing outpouring of goodness, of positive emotions. God held the hand of every individual there and all of this made each and every one a better person. Everyone who participated in the Orange Revolution - I want them to never forget the positive feelings of the maidan and to maintain that same active role in society, to keep fighting for freedom and for their rights.

Q: You have said in previous interviews that your husband does not listen to your advice. How has your relationship changed? You were his biggest supporter through all of this.

A: Of course, the horror of his illness, when he was so close to death, changed our relationship. There is always a commitment, largely because of children, but this experience made it deeper.

Viktor respects my advice, but I also know that my advice is not always expected or welcome. He is not one to come home and unload and expect feedback. He is an introverted thinker. All day he has people telling him what they think he should do, telling him negative things. He does not need this at home. He wants to come home and receive positive emotions.

When he does ask my opinion or to take on a project, I accept this responsibility very seriously. Through the years, I have come to learn that Viktor has a very good sense of both the strategy and tactics needed for Ukraine. He is a very strong decision maker. My advice is often supplemental.

Q: How do you see your role as the First Lady of Ukraine?

A: I believe that I have one of the most wonderful jobs in the whole world. I can pursue so many interests that I have, and have much more effect than before. I will be taking over my husband's foundation, Ukraina 3000, which for three years has sponsored projects in three areas: Ukraine Yesterday, Ukraine Today, and Ukraine Tomorrow. Under Ukraine Yesterday, we supported projects on the topic of Ukraine's Genocide-Famine, including a film of eyewitness testimonies, a book, and a website. We also organized an exhibit of Ukrainian clothing design, a periodical for Ukrainian museum managers, a Trypilian archeological dig and "Kraina Mriy," a large international folklore festival organized by Oleh Skrypka of the rock group VV.

Under Ukraine Today, we provided stipends to the families of journalists who perished, sponsored a competition for regional journalists, assisted Father's House, a shelter for homeless children, and responded to more than 12,000 letters from families and individuals who asked for support.

Our Ukraine Tomorrow section sponsored 18 roundtables that brought together non-governmental organizations and individuals from around Ukraine to design a strategy for Ukraine's development, which produced a document, "Manifesto for the Individual," intended to provide a view of Ukraine's future from the point of view of its citizens rather than from its authorities.

In the future, the Ukraine 3000 Foundation will continue its work on the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide by sponsoring a massive collection of witness testimonies similar to the Spielberg Shoah Project. Our foundation will support the government's efforts to create a Famine museum and a Famine monument. We also want to popularize the tradition, initiated by the late Dr. James Mace, of lighting a candle in memory of our ancestors, so that this great tragedy becomes a part of our national consciousness. On the 75th anniversary, we hope to organize an international world conference of leaders to commemorate the people who died. We also want to distribute literature to all Ukrainian families about the Famine so that they are aware of their history.

We will concentrate our efforts also on social issues that trouble Ukraine. These will include the integration of the disabled into society, homeless and exploited children, orphans and health issues, including cardiac, tobacco-related, [illnesses] and HIV-AIDS.

We plan to address these issues by providing grants to grass-roots community organizations that will tackle these issues locally. Whether they work as individuals, small groups, of churches, we want Ukrainians to begin to think in the concept of neighbor helping neighbor, instead of constantly expecting the government to take care of all social ills. Where possible, we will work with other organizations. For example, we have already agreed to cooperate with the Klitshchko Brothers Foundation.

Q: You have always been a very civic-minded individual, belonging to SUM (Ukrainian American Youth Association), later helping establish Help Us Help the Children, an orphans' aid association. How do you see a civil society developing in Ukraine?

A: I have always been amazed by the commitment to charity in the United States. I read that more than 50 percent of Americans volunteer some of their time to charity every year. I believe this is wonderful for the soul, for society and for our obligation to God. In my teenage years, I was involved in Ukrainian organizations such as SUM and in defense of Ukrainian political prisoners, and in high school I worked with handicapped children. I also led tours of the historical association in my community in Mount Prospect, Ill., working in the museum and learning the history of my neighborhood. What started out as a hobby grew into a conviction that the best way to show your faith in God is to do good for others, because God judges us by what we do when no one is watching.

The words of my late mother-in-law always echo in my mind - "Hurry to do good," she would always say as we left her humble home in the village. One of the first things that impressed me about Viktor was that he did so many little things for so many people and he would never mention it. I would find out from a third or fourth party that he helped rebuild a museum, or gave money to cure a child or publish a book and it was all without publicity. He was doing good for the sake of doing good - it was part of his moral upbringing.

The philosophy of our organization is that the individual is the basis of a free society. I believe that the people of Ukraine proved during the Orange Revolution that they are ready to take responsibility for themselves, their communities and their country.

Q: Will there be any special initiatives for the foundation working with the new government?

A: There will be many, but one that I am excited about is a joint project with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We wish to set up Ukraine Houses in capitals throughout the world to promote Ukraine, its culture and its people. We will send exhibits, sponsor concerts, donate books to libraries. Where possible, we will work with diaspora organizations and others interested in promoting Ukrainian culture. For example, Gerard Depardieu, who became fascinated with Ukraine after playing Balzac in a film, has promised to help us in Paris.

In my capacity as first lady, I will be serving a representative role and my goal is to show Ukraine's best light to the rest of the world, and that includes the best of our arts, our culture, our costumes, our crafts, our cuisine.

Q: And, who serves as your role model?

A: I do not have a single role model. There are many people I admire and think of in different situations. I believe my main heroes are Ukraine's dissidents, who always stood by their principles in the most difficult of times. I often thought of them during the Orange Revolution. Although we lived in fear at times during the Orange Revolution, we always had a place to go to get warm and comfortable. The dissidents in the 1960s, '70s and '80s sat in cold labor camps, far from family and often ill, often without a glimmer of hope. I also must mention my late mother-in-law, a school teacher, who was very strong and wise, and who accomplished so much good from her native Khoruzhivka. Her words and deeds brought thousands to her funeral this past January.

Among Ukrainian women I admire Lina Kostenko, also because she is someone who will never compromise her principles.

I recently presented a new book titled "Ukrainky v Istoriyi" (Ukrainian Women in History), sponsored by Natalya Danylenko of Philadelphia. Women were often at the forefront of the Ukrainian intelligentsia.

To me, a role model is someone who chooses an issue important to him or her and works hard to achieve success in that area. I find that my closest friends today are people who fall into this category.

Q: Are there any first ladies you admire?

A: I try to learn from every first lady I meet. I have had the opportunity to spend time with Mrs. Kwasniewska of Poland and Mrs. Roloeffs of Georgia, and learn from their experiences.

I have admired various American first ladies for many reasons: Jackie Kennedy was very committed to her family and through her intelligence and elegance raised the level of culture in the White House; Nancy Reagan was deeply commited and protective of her husband; Betty Ford used liabilities (both breast cancer and alcohol abuse) to bring awareness to these problems in society; Barbara Bush had great wit and humor in the most difficult of situations; Hillary Clinton was highly intelligent and committed to worthy causes; Laura Bush is eloquent in her pursuance of an issue close to her heart, literacy. I've mentioned in the past that Cheri Blair is very interesting to me - she has been able to combine a career and children very successfully.

Q: So, it must be very exciting to be receiving the Profiles in Courage award from Caroline Kennedy next month?

A: The entire U.S. trip is exciting. It is truly a unique moment in the history of Ukraine, which is now viewed internationally as a carrier of democracy, a carrier of the message of freedom. I am very proud that Ukraine is being recognized and proud that my husband has played a role in this.

It is very sentimental for me, a coming together of my past and my present and my future.

Q: Your trip includes stops in D.C., Chicago and Boston. What about New York?

A: Yes, we will be arriving Sunday evening, April 3; and my husband will meet with President Bush on April 4, followed by a luncheon for the two presidents and the two first ladies. There will be a series of meetings in Washington with various politial and policy organizations and the media.

After this, we will fly to Chicago, my hometown, where there will be a dinner, and my husband will meet with the media and speak at the Council on Foreign Relations, and I will deliver a speech at my alma mater, the University of Chicago. I was also thrilled to recently learn that next year the university will set up a scholarship in my name.

Then we are off to Boston, to the Kennedy Library for the award ceremony, followed by a lecture at Harvard. That same evening, we return to D.C., and on Wednesday my husband will address a joint session of Congress and hold many other meetings. I will attend a luncheon with organizations interested in working with Ukraine on humanitarian, social and cultural issues.

We will return to Kyiv on April 7. It's an unbelievably tight schedule, so it is doubtful that we will make a stop in New York, though I never say never. My husband intends to come to New York for the opening session of the United Nations in the fall, and then can meet with business, media and the diaspora.

We feel it is important for us to meet with the Ukrainian diaspora. More than 20 million Ukrainians live abroad. We want Ukrainians abroad to be more involved in Ukraine, and invite them to return and become vibrant members of our society. Some Americans may feel that I have given up America for Ukraine and some Ukrainians might feel that I am not Ukrainian enough, but I am honored by the thought that I may be able to be a bridge between the two worlds.

Q: Your American citizenship was used in a mud-slinging campaign against your husband. What are you planning to do about your citizenship? Is dual citizenship possible?

A: Yes, the issue was used against my husband because they had nothing else on him, no corruption charges, no scandals, but I don't think it was a very effective weapon. The people who were incensed that his wife was an American were the people that would not have voted for him anyway - these were the Communists, the oligarchs and those who opposed Western orientation for Ukraine.

According to the polls, this was not an important issue in the presidential campaign. However, Viktor and I decided many years ago that I would become a Ukrainian citizen, despite all the pension and other problems this presents. I put in my application last year to the Kuchma-Yanukovych government, but they returned my application, citing procedural reasons.

On March 22, I received my Ukrainian citizenship.

The Ukrainian Constitution does not allow dual citizenship. In my opinion, the diaspora should have the right of Ukrainian citizenship, but this is an issue the Ukrainian government and people should decide in the future.

Q: You are perhaps the embodiment of the American dream; what legacy would you like the Yushchenko presidency to leave behind?

A: I think the American dream is opportunity and hope, a fair chance for an education and work. A chance to have a happy family and material well-being. To read and learn and have access to information. To receive quality medical care for one's family. In fact, the American dream is the dream of every individual in the world. My dream for Ukrainians is that they can achieve their dreams. They should feel that they have a fair chance at an education and a job. Too often in Ukraine I hear: "I could never do that," I want the Ukrainian dream to be that of hope and opportunity.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 3, 2005, No. 14, Vol. LXXIII

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